Anything Is Possible (Project 358: Day 146)

I've had a passion for writing as far back as I can remember. Basically, since the day I first put pencil to paper and combined letters to create words, I have felt an undeniable need to take those words and create sentences, paragraphs, stories. Over the years, I've vacillated between goals...I want to write for a fashion magazine! No wait, I want to be a poet! Hmmm, perhaps "copy editor" would be more realistic...But through all of this, one goal has remained constant: to write a children's book.

Day 146: Anything Is Possible. Right?

I purchased the book pictured above, How To Write And Illustrate Children's Books And Get Them Published, many years ago, probably about a decade. I glanced through it at the time, did a little dreaming, but never acted upon those dreams. Since then, it has sat on a shelf, collecting dust and occasionally catching my eye, reigniting the old flame.

A couple friends commented on a recent post of mine, saying that it reminded them of a storybook. To me, there could be no greater compliment; instantly, the old flame was reignited! I went to bed that night with a mash-up of ideas swirling in my head. A couple hours into sleep, I awoke suddenly with a very clear story line, a main character, everything, it was all there, in my head! I had no idea if it was any good, but it was vivid, and the vividness excited me.

The next day, I got out "the book". I flipped through the pages and was overwhelmed with one single thought: I don't want my dreams to collect dust anymore. I want to DO, not dream! I want to show my kids, through my actions, that anything is possible. 

Throughout my teens and early 20's, I lived in fear, totally incapable of expressing myself fully. As a teenager, I hid behind outlandish clothing and dyed hair; in my 20's, sadly, alcohol and drugs are what I chose to hide behind. I got married, I had children, and I felt like I was whole again: THIS is what I always wanted to do! And, to a point, it is. I love being a mom. It fulfills me and changes me and makes me grow in ways that I can't even begin to explain, and yet... And yet. IT (meaning, motherhood) has now become the "thing I hide behind." It is so easy to say, "...when the kids are older,"..."when the kids are in school,"..."WHEN I have more time." But, honestly, WHEN will I have more time? TIME is not the issue, priorities are.

So. Have ya'll heard about "The Secret"? Okay, wait! Before you roll your eyes and click "unfollow", hear me out. So, The Secret is a DVD (and book) that came out in, I don't know, 2006? The author was featured on Oprah, among a panel of others (apparently in on said secret) and the show created quite a stir among viewers. Eventually, I bought the book because, I don't know, I'm into that sort of thing. 

I have mixed feelings about the book (it seems overly obsessed with the acquisition of material possessions and also sort of insinuates that if "the secret" isn't working for you, you're not doing it right), but the overall concept is definitely one I can get down with. It's based on the Law of Attraction, which simply states that "like attracts like", that positive and negative thinking bring about positive and negative physical results, respectively. For instance, according to the Law of Attraction, the phrase "I need more money" allows the subject to continue to "need more money". If the subject wants to change this, they would focus their thoughts on the goal (having more money) rather than the problem (needing more money). This might take the form of phrases such as, "I have as much money as I need" or, "I have a job that pays very well". This is not a new concept. The author of The Secret simply took a very old concept and repackaged it, for a new audience. And bravo to her! That right there is The Secret in action!

So how does all of this relate to me? 

I am going to change the dialogue in my head. I am going to realize my dreams. I am going to write a children's book, gosh darnit! I am going to sit down and write. I am going to sit down and draw. I am going to sit down and figure it the fuck* out. And I am going to believe. That anything is possible. Because it is. Right?


* I promise not to include curse words in my children's stories, despite my obvious penchant for doing so on my blog.